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How to select a good headphone

Most of us use headphone on a regular basis, especially with our
smartphones and music players. But do we think about whether the
headphone we use is the best at what it is doing. Kapil Gulati,
Vice-President (Sales & Marketing) Sennheiser, explains how to
select a good head phone. There are 3 factors to consider while
selecting a headphone:

APPLICATION / USAGE: The type of headphone will depend on the usage. So
you have different headphones for indoor, outdoor, travel and so on.
Each of these has a different USP. For travel you will need a headphone
with noise cancellation; for sports one with a good fit, water and sweat
resistant; for video conferencing and chats you need a headset with
good noise cancellation microphone. If you are an audiophile you should
look at a high-end headphone; and for latenight TV, a wireless headphone
is best. Gamers should look at headsets with 3D/surround sound.

MUSIC TYPE: Headphones are of different types based on their impedance
levels. You have to match the impedance levels of the source device with
the headphones. Impedance level is like resistance and a mismatch can
affect the sound quality. For use with mobile devices look for an
impedance level of between 16 and 64 Ohms, for home theatres select
between 32 and 120 Ohms, and up to 300 Ohms if you want to use it on an
amplifier.

TIP: Don't listen at more than 70 per cent of the maximum volume if you
use your headphones throughout the day, or more than 80 per cent of the
volume if you use them for an hour or so.

You can also select music according to your favourite genre.
Ideally, the human ear can hear sound between 20 and 20,000 Hertz though
it is better to buy a headphone with a wider frequency range for better
overall performance. Fans of jazz and classical music should look at
headphones that give more detail in midrange and highs. For rap and
hip-hop, headphones with more lows are better.

DESIGN: Open-back headphones deliver the best quality and are more
natural. Closed designs are better if you need more bass and need to
block external sounds. If you want to listen for long stretches of time
then look for a headband that is padded and adjusts to fit to your head.
Circumaural / Over the ear headphones distribute pressure over a wider
area and are more comfortable. Supra-aural or On-ear-headphones are
smaller and better for travelling. In-ear headphones are good for
travelling and keep out external sounds. Make sure the cord is long
enough-ones that are connected to one side are less prone to tangles.